Mica Galvao receives a one-year suspension from USADA after testing positive for prohibited performance enhancers.
The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has confirmed rumors that grappling phenom Mica Galvao tested positive for PEDs during the 2022 International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) World Championships.
The 19-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu phenomenon has accepted a one-year suspension for violating anti-doping rules.
USADA revealed in their statement that Galvao tested positive for clomiphene and its metabolite 4-hydroxy clomiphene during a competition drug test conducted on June 5, 2022. Clomiphene falls under the category of hormone and metabolic modulators and is prohibited for use by athletes in all sports by World Anti-Doping Code and the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing.
USADA also stated that they discovered that Galvao’s positive test resulted from a medication prescribed to him in a therapeutic dose by Galvao’s physician.
However, Galvao failed to obtain the required Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) before using the prohibited substance, as mandated by the Code.
Consequently, he received a one-year suspension, a shorter duration than the three-year bans handed to five other competitors earlier this year.
Galvao’s suspension period started on July 22, 2022. That’s the date when his suspension began. He’s also disqualified from all of his competitive results achieved in competitions in IBJJF or any other competition from June 5, 2022, onwards, which includes the forfeiture of any medals, points, and prizes.
While the one-year suspension is a significant setback for Galvao, it is crucial to acknowledge that he is still a young athlete with a promising future in the sport. Many are hopeful that he will use this time away from competition to reflect on his actions and make the necessary adjustments to ensure he competes fairly moving forward.
The suspension also serves as a reminder of the importance of strict adherence to anti-doping regulations in the sport of BJJ. As a role model for younger athletes, Galvao’s actions and subsequent suspension will undoubtedly be a topic of discussion and an opportunity for athletes, coaches, and parents to reiterate the importance of competing fairly and ethically.
Mica Galvao’s Background
Micael “Mica” Galvao, was born in 2003 in Manaus, Brazil, and is considered a prodigy in the world of BJJ. He has been training since the age of four and has won numerous prestigious titles, including the Brazilian National Championship, the IBJJF World Championship, and the UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro Championship. At the age of 15, Galvao was promoted to the rank of brown belt, and he has continued to excel in both gi and no-gi competitions.
